Liverpool’s priority this summer has been to reshape their midfield. Jurgen Klopp’s ranks have been trimmed down in recent months, with Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Arthur all departing the club.
The Reds have pulled off two shrewd signings to fill the void in this key area of the pitch in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, bringing down the average age of the midfield options in comparison to last year.
The midfield looked tired in 2022-23 after an exhausting campaign 12 months prior as they played in every single competitive fixture in chasing what would have been an immortalising quadruple. Players like Keita, Fabinho, Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain were expected to be moved on this summer to make way for more youthful talent that can take the reins for the next phase of Klopp’s project.
READ MORE:
The two summer arrivals have been viewed as excellent pick-ups by Liverpool, but judging by their opening Premier League stalemate at Chelsea the midfield still needs balancing with a defensive-minded player who also offers leadership.
Maybe this had something to do with the most surprising exit from Anfield this summer as club captain Henderson departed. Like Fabinho, he was enticed by the lucrative money on offer in Saudi Arabia. His qualities as a leader will be sorely missed on and off the pitch, and alongside the departure of Milner the loss of Henderson has given Klopp much to think about when revamping his squad.
Klopp has been left frustrated over the past week as two of his top targets, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, have been snapped up by free-spending Chelsea. This has taken Liverpool’s approach in a different direction but one which could certainly benefit the club in the immediate future.
Liverpool have now confirmed the signing of 30-year-old Stuttgart captain and Japan international Wataru Endo. While it deviates from the practice of a youthful overhaul, Endo will certainly bring a different dynamic to Anfield which could prove to be a masterstroke from the club.
The stalwart has received rave reviews from Stuttgart fans who are very sad to see him go, but they are delighted for him to get this opportunity to showcase his talent on the biggest stage. Since the beginning of the 2020-21 season, Endo has topped the Bundesliga charts for midfielders in most possession won in the defensive third (254), most aerial duels won (219), most clearances (175) and most headed clearances (105). The Yokohama-born midfielder also boasted the second-most touches (6,511), passes completed (3,940) and tackles (208).
These are exactly the type of stats that should get Liverpool fans excited following his arrival. Many complained about the lack of mobility from Fabinho last year and Endo has the sort of athleticism in his game that the Brazilian failed to demonstrate.
His years of experience will stabilise the midfield next to Mac Allister and Szoboszlai and it will allow both players some more attacking freedom. He will also have an impact on the younger players in the squad who are coming through. Harvey Elliott is the youngster getting the most game time in the first team and then there is Stefan Bajcetic, who has given supporters a glimpse of what they can expect from him in the years to come.
It is reported that Endo has cost £16 million, a fraction of the price they would’ve had to pay for Caicedo. They are getting a player with much more experience and also adding another senior figure to the dressing room to aid captain Virgil van Dijk at a time when the likes of Milner and Henderson have left holes in that regard.
Fans who were disappointed at the Reds missing out on Caicedo and Lavia have been quick to turn their noses up at Endo because he doesn’t have the same level of profile and he is much older than their priority targets, but there is definitely a reason why Klopp and the recruitment team have identified him as the most suitable alternative.
Klopp’s signings over the years have largely been a success despite fans often doubting his judgement, and they shouldn’t in this scenario either. Endo could be the latest success story on Merseyside in the Klopp era at Liverpool, and the stats should give fans hope that their side will maintain the standards set in recent times.
